Biography:
1. Joseph Hilton was born circa 1788 at Great Munden in Hertfordshire, and was employed as a Millman in January 1805, earning 2/3d per day (Supply 5/224 dated the 30th January 1806). This was also the case in in June 1807 (Supply 5/226) when he was allowed 3d per night while on duty
2. According to the entry on Supply 5/227 dated the 23rd August 1808, Joseph was still a Millman earning 2/3d per day, but was then "allowed 6d per night when on duty."
3. Supply 5/228 dated the 1st September 1810 confirmed that he was still a Millman whose pay remained at 2/3d day, and that he was allowed 6d per night when on duty. He married Elizabeth Webb at Waltham Holy Cross Church on the 26th August 1810, and their first son, William was born and baptised at the Abbey Church in 1813. William was followed by Thomas in 1815, and Joseph, jnr. in 1818. In addition, they had 2 other sons, John, born in 1826 and Benjamin in 1829, as well as two daughters, Harriet, born in 1820 and Frances in 1822. Joseph died in 1862. Elizabeth died in 1843 and John in 1861. Their sons, William, Thomas and John, all worked at the Mills (David Bishop Family History).
4. Supply 5/229 dated the 29th August 1812, confirmed that Joseph was still a Millman, but that he then earned 3/-d per day, in addition to which, he was allowed 6d. per night when on duty.
5. List of Employees and their Pay (Supply 5/230 dated the 13th February 1814) recorded that Joseph was now the Storekeeper's Labourer, earning 2/8d per day.
6. List of Employees dated the 25th June 1818 (Supply 5/231) recorded that Joseph Hilton was a Saltpetre Refiner. He was a married man, aged 29, with 2 children, who lived in Waltham Abbey, and earned 2/4d per day as well as being allowed to watch in turn, for which he was paid 1/-d per night. (His given age means he was born circa 1788; he seems, therefore, to have been very young to have been a Millman in 1805).
8. With the output of gunpowder reduced following the end of the wars in Europe, the workforce was cut back. The Storekeeper drew up lists of people who were to be made redundant, and initially Joseph was to be retained, but in a letter to the Board dated September 1818 (Supply 5/231) it was stated, "We respectfully beg leave to add the names and stations of those persons whom it will be necessary to discharge in consequence of this arrangement." and the list included Joseph Hilton.
9. The 1841 Census showed that a Joseph Hilton, Labourer, of a similar age, was living in Silver Street with his wife, Elizabeth, and sons, William (25) John (15) and Benjamin (12).
10 Joseph died in 1862.
